Choose by where the water is. A submersible pump sits in the water and pushes up; a surface pump sits on land and pulls. That one difference decides lift, cable runs and maintenance, so start from the source, not from the pump catalogue.
What Are the Two Pump Types?
The two pump types and how each moves water.
Why Does Pump Type Matter?
The wrong type either cannot lift the water at all or turns routine service into a major job; the deep-well article and the submersible-problems article both trace failures back to a mismatch between source and pump type.
When Should You Decide?
Decide at design time, from the measured water depth; revisit it if the water level falls or the source changes.
Where Does Each Type Fit?
Borehole and deep well versus shallow well, tank, pond and river.
How to Choose the Right Pump Type
- Measure the dynamic water level in the dry season, not just the resting level.
- For a deep borehole or well, where the pump may sit 80 to 150 metres below the inverter as the 380V article notes, choose submersible.
- For a shallow well, tank, pond or river, choose surface.
- Match the inverter to the motor voltage and phase either way; both types run on solar pump inverters.
- Plan the cable: a submersible needs a long motor run with waterproof splices kept out of the splash zone, as the cable article sets out; a surface pump keeps runs short.
- Plan maintenance: a surface pump is accessible on site, while a submersible must be pulled to be serviced.
Submersible vs Surface Comparison
| Submersible | Surface | |
|---|---|---|
| Position | In the water, pushes up | On land, pulls |
| Best for | Deep borehole and well | Shallow well, tank, pond, river |
| Head | High, deep settings 80 to 150 metres | Limited by suction lift |
| Maintenance | Pull the pump to service | Accessible on site |
Pick by Source
| Source | Pick |
|---|---|
| Borehole, deep well | Submersible |
| Shallow well, tank, surface water | Surface |
Related Reading
- Solar pump inverter for deep well
- Solar submersible pump problems
- What size solar pump inverter do I need?
- What size cable for a solar pump inverter?
- QB100-PV solar pump inverter
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a surface pump lift from a deep borehole?
No: suction lift limits it; deep water needs a submersible pump.
Is a submersible pump always better?
No: it is harder to service, so for shallow sources a surface pump is simpler.
Do both types use the same inverter?
Both run on solar pump inverters; check motor voltage and phase match either way.
If my surface pump cannot reach the water, will a bigger inverter fix it?
No: the lift limit is the pump’s physics, not power; change the pump type.
What fails most on submersible systems?
Cable joints and dry running: waterproof splices out of the splash zone, plus dry-run protection.
Send your source depth and daily volume for a pump-type check.